And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.
Parallel translations
- WEB When they were at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. They had also John as their attendant.
- KJV And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
- BSB When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. And John was with them as their helper.
- ESV When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to assist them.
- NASB When they reached Salamis, they began to proclaim the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; and they also had John as their helper.
- NLT There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. John Mark went with them as their assistant.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
At Salamis they proclaim God's word in the Jewish synagogues, with John Mark assisting them. Their pattern is to begin where Scripture is already honored.
Overview
Preaching first in the synagogues reflects the gospel's order, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Rom 1:16), and gives access to those familiar with the Scriptures. John Mark serves as their helper, sharing the labor. This establishes the missionary method that recurs throughout Paul's journeys.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Acts 13:14But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.
- Acts 13:46Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
- Acts 18:4He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
- Acts 17:17So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him.
- Acts 14:1In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.
- Acts 12:12Thinking about that, he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.
- Acts 19:8He entered into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning God’s Kingdom.
- Acts 9:20Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God.
- Acts 15:37Barnabas planned to take John, who was called Mark, with them also.
- 2 Tim 4:11Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.
- Acts 12:25Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their service, also taking with them John who was called Mark.
- Col 4:10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, “if he comes to you, receive him”),
- Acts 17:1–3Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
- 1 Kgs 19:21He returned from following him, and took the yoke of oxen, and killed them, and boiled their meat with the instruments of the oxen, and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and served him.
- Matt 20:26It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
- Exod 24:13Moses rose up with Joshua, his servant, and Moses went up onto God’s Mountain.
- 2 Kgs 3:11But Jehoshaphat said, “Isn’t there a prophet of Yahweh here, that we may inquire of Yahweh by him?” One of the king of Israel’s servants answered, “Elisha the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah, is here.”
- 1 Kgs 19:3When he saw that, he arose, and ran for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
How Acts 13:5 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.